SUSTAINABILITY Newsletter
SPRING 2025
Campus Updates
SOU Expands Solar to Power a Brighter Future
SOU continues to make exciting progress toward its goal of generating 100% of the electricity it uses during the day from on-site solar. With solar now on nine rooftops in Ashland and an array in Medford, our total on-site capacity is 842 kW—and growing!
In July 2024, we completed a 241 kW rooftop system on Lithia Motors Pavilion, the largest array in the City of Ashland, funded by ODOE’s Community Renewable Energy Program. In February 2025, a new array was added to The Hawk Dining facility. It will go live this June once the battery storage system is installed.
Thanks to state and federal funding, SOU is accelerating its clean energy transformation. This investment supports new rooftop and parking lot solar arrays, as well as two battery storage systems—boosting both sustainability and community resilience.
So far, our on-site solar generates 11.6% of SOU’s electricity needs. This summer, new solar projects will go up on the Art and Marion Ady buildings, with more in the pipeline to keep our momentum going. We’re proud to be building a campus powered by the sun—one rooftop at a time!
AASHE STARS
SOU’s 2025 sustainability accreditation through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has been submitted!! The Sustainability Office, Institute for Applied Sustainability, and Sustainability student employees collectively worked together to submit this report.
SOU previously earned a Gold STARS rating for Sustainability in 2022, and we are required to report every three years The report is currently in the evaluation stage by AASHE and will come back to SOU soon with an overall score, and STARS Rating.
We would like to thank everyone across all of SOU that helped make the report happen! It took a lot of effort and time, and we appreciate all the departments, and individuals that helped us!
Sustainability Art Contest Winner!
The Institute for Applied Sustainability (IAS) at SOU is delighted to announce that a winner has been selected for their sustainability art contest that closed earlier this month. Shaiden Carr’s piece titled “Sustainable Glow: Nature Under Urban Light” will soon be found in the IAS offices in Science Hall 323. We appreciate every student who submitted work to the contest; it made for a tough decision! Stay tuned for more IAS sustainability art competitions in the future
Celebrating Arbor Day at SOU
On April 25th, four SOU landscape crew members and seven volunteers came together to celebrate Arbor Day with extensive mulching and planting an array of native plants on the south side of Hannon Library. What began as a windy, overcast day ended in sunshine and new partnerships between those in attendance.
Students, staff, faculty, and community members are highly encouraged to visit the back side of Hannon Library to check out the results of that day, as well as to take a stroll along the walking trail that meanders from one side of the building to the other.
Observance of Arbor Day is just one requirement for institutions hoping to secure certification as a Tree Campus USA, a recognition that SOU has received for over 10 years. Visit https://www.arborday.org/programs/tree-campus-higher-education/ for more information about the Arbor Day Foundation and its Tree Campus Higher Education certification program.
WOHESC 2025
Southern Oregon University students, staff and faculty made their presence felt at the Washington Oregon Cascadia Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC) in Portland, where SOU participants shared the university’s stories of success in sustainability with peer institutions. The conference, hosted this year by Portland Community College and attended by representatives from colleges and universities throughout the Northwest.
SOU Sustainability Director Becs Walker presented on two of the university’s major successes in the past year: its groundbreaking work on solar installations and commitment to produce 100% of its daytime electricity by 2035; and its development of The Institute for Applied Sustainability, which has brought together sustainability professionals from academic affairs, student life and campus operations to establish sustainability as a pillar of excellence at SOU.
The conference featured a lineup of main stage keynote speakers – PCC President Adrien L. Bennings, author Sarah Jaquette Ray, Portland State University faculty member Judy Bluehorse Skelton and Samoan climate activist Brianna Fruean – along with six plenary speakers and more than 90 session speakers. This year’s conference theme, “Cultivating Sustainable Communities, was an exploration of the intentional care required to build inclusive and resilient communities.
Sustainability Spotlight
Sustainability Spotlight focuses on Daniel Kreiman, who is the Sustainability Coordinator for Operations at SOU!
Who is Daniel?
We’re excited to welcome Daniel, the Sustainability Coordinator for the Sustainability Office at SOU. He’s traveled across the country to join the SOU community! Born in Rochester, New York raised in Columbus, Ohio, Daniel brings with him a deep passion for sustainability and experience working in Higher Education sustainability. Before landing in Ashland, Daniel previously worked as the first ever Sustainability Coordinator at York College in Pennsylvania.
Daniel’s journey into the sustainability field was sparked by an inspiring high school environmental science teacher who “shared his passion and emotion for the environment, and that hit me in a way no other school subject had”. That spark turned into a direction for Daniel when he had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Jane Goodall speak in Costa Rica.
What does he do for SOU?
He earned his Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and Sustainability with a minor in Geology from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and his masters in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Now at SOU, Daniel plays a key role in our campus operations. He manages the student team at the recycling center, leads data collection for our greenhouse gas inventory, and tracks utility usage and solar energy production across campus. He’s also researching and advancing future-focused projects like electric vehicle infrastructure, waste reduction strategies, and sustainable purchasing.
Since arriving, he’s already helped update SOU’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory, reported on our operations data for our national sustainability report known as STARS, and is working to improve data transparency and operational tracking tools. When asked what excites him most about the role, Daniel said it’s “being part of a team that is committed to and acts on sustainability.”
Any advice or final thoughts?
Since he’s joined the Rogue Valley community, Daniel’s been soaking in the beauty of the region and is eager to spend even more time hiking, golfing, and enjoying the outdoors. He’s found inspiration in how many people here are out walking, biking, and connecting with nature.
When asked for advice, Daniel keeps it simple: “There’s a lot going on in the world—and probably in your life too. Try to get outside and take a walk. Listen to the birds, look at the trees. It will help.”
And if you’re looking to get more involved in sustainability, Daniel’s door is open. Whether you’re passionate about climate justice, operations, education, or simply want to learn more, Daniel’s always happy to chat.
Move Out for Students at the end of Summer Term
Move-out is fast approaching, and SOU is dedicated to working towards a sustainable move-out process. Instead of immediately throwing items away, please consider other ways that you can find new homes for your items.
Item Donations:
- University Housing is partnering with Southern Oregon Goodwill to collect and resell clothing, books, household items, and more. If you live on campus in Shasta, McLoughlin, or Madrone, you can donate gently used goods in Greensprings from June 2nd to June 13th. If you live in Student and Family Housing, you can access a donation trailer for gently used goods and furniture in the Quincy parking lot from June 19th to July 2nd.
Food Pantry Bins:
- If you have unopened, non-expired, nonperishable items that you will not consume before move-out, consider donating them to the SOU Food Pantry. The Food Pantry will have donation bins in Greensprings from June 2nd to June 16th. Please adhere to the signage on each bin for what you can and cannot donate. Each donation is sorted by hand by fellow SOU students… adhere to the donation rules to make it easier for them!
Trade, swap, repair, upcycle…
- Before placing an item in a donation bin, consider other ways that it can be used. Upcycle items you don’t wear/use often, swap clothing with friends, and see if your neighbors need your household items.
If you must dispose of items…
- Separate your items responsibly! Consider SOU’s standard rules for what can be placed in landfill, recycling, and glass bins
- When in doubt, leave it out. If you aren’t sure that an item can be recycled, place it in the landfill. Non-recyclable items placed in the recycling bins can contaminate an entire load of recycling.
The Farm at SOU: Growing Food, Community, and Education
At The Farm at Southern Oregon University, we’re proud to serve as a hub for hands-on learning, food production, and community connection. This season, our organically grown produce will again support SOU Dining Services and the Ashland School District, helping nourish both college students and K-12 youth. We also continue to welcome students of all ages for educational opportunities on The Farm – from classroom field trips to university-led sustainability initiatives.
This summer, our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program has sold out! Running from July 2 through September 17, CSA members receive a weekly harvest share filled with seasonal favorites like chard, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and more. We’re grateful for the support from our community and look forward to sharing our farm-fresh bounty throughout the season.
We will also be excited to welcome a newly improved and expanded hoop house to The Farm. This addition will allow us to extend our growing season through the winter. Providing more produce for our partners while reducing weather-related risk. By maintaining a more stable climate inside the structure, our hoop house will support increased food diversity and year-round educational engagement.
Lastly, we are thrilled to welcome Reid Howery as our new Assistant Farm Manager. Reid brings experience in community edible gardening and natural land management, with a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Urbanism from Rollins College. Reid is passionate about the community-driven nature of farming and values the opportunity to help students build real-world skills through their work on The Farm.
We invite you to stay connected with us through the season by following @TheFarmAtSOU on Instagram. There, you will find glimpses of our growing practices, student involvement, upcoming events, and seasonal harvests. Whether you are a student, educator, CSA member, or simply a supporter of local food and sustainability, we welcome you to be part of The Farm community.
Summer in the Rogue Valley
Connect with your own backyard this Summer–check out the Ashland Watershed!
Did you know Ashland is well known for its mountain biking and hiking trails? The Ashland Woodland & Trails Association has mapped out all the trails in the Ashland Watershed. Whether you are mountain biking or hiking, their suggested loops are a great way to explore the area. You can begin your adventure in iconic Lithia Park, start from the scenic Oredson-Todd Woods (where you might spot the neighborhood pig!), or choose from several other easily accessible trailheads.
Take in the views and wildflowers from Grizzly Peak!
The Grizzly Peak Trail offers incredible views of the Rogue Valley, Mt. McLoughlin, and even Mt. Shasta on a clear day. This trail comes alive with wildflowers in late spring and early Summer, so as the snow clears up, you’ve got to check this trail out!
Don’t Miss Crater Lake–Swim While You Can!
If you haven’t made it to Crater Lake National Park yet, that is a must this summer. Not only is it the deepest lake in the United States and an icon of the Pacific Northwest, but this is the last summer to swim in the lake for the next three years due to some upcoming trail work. Make the trip while you still can–it’s an unforgettable experience!
